Penguins’ New Defenseman ‘Excited’ To Start Fresh In Pittsburgh

Connor Clifton is starting fresh with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Clifton was traded to the Penguins from the Buffalo Sabres in June in exchange for Conor Timmins. Pittsburgh sent away defenseman prospect Issac Belliveau for the 30-year-old and a 2025 second-round NHL Draft pick.

The defenseman struggled during the 2024-25 season with the Sabres, skating in 73 games and producing just one goal and 15 assists. He was sometimes taken out of the lineup as a healthy scratch due to his struggles with the team.

With wanting to play better, Clifton believes that heading to Pittsburgh is what he needs to get back to his old playing style.

“I wasn’t too happy with (the situation). You know, I think I was all over my place,” Clifton said in his media availability on Tuesday. “I wouldn’t even say just last year. Really, the past two years. I think my game has kind of been at a standstill. It was a lot of mental battles along the way. There were a couple of scratches two years ago, too. So I think my whole time in Buffalo, I feel like I kind of lost myself. Again, the change of scenery, I got that call that I’m going to be a Pittsburgh Penguin. I was really excited about the change. I want to get back to my old self, and how I play, and the impact that I have on the game.”

Clifton’s physicality is an area of his game that has jumped out about him, even in the past two seasons when he has struggled. The 5-foot-11, 195-pound defenseman led the Sabres with 208 hits, proving how physical he is when he is on the ice.

“I’ve heard (that I’m small) plenty of times. That’s kind of how I’ve always played, and working to get to the next level, it was always a big part of my game,” Clifton said. “I feel like I out-competed my way to the NHL with that sort of style, and that’s what’s gonna keep me there.”

Across seven seasons, Clifton has skated in 384 games with the Boston Bruins and Sabres, tallying 77 points on 15 goals and 62 assists. His best season was with the Bruins during the 2022-23 season, putting up 23 points on five goals and 18 assists, going plus-20.

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